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Black Knight
I jumped out of the carrier to witness a bunch of sailors suffocate us.
Figuratively.
As soon as our squad followed the headmaster outside, hordes of eyepatched, tattooed, and bandana-wearing teams of people crowded around. With the only prevention from physical contact being his guards using shields.
Our horse carriages couldn't move through. So we walked past while the mass were told off, and I noticed their individual, yet general appearances.
Silver teeth, piercings wherever, grimed leather boots, a loss of an eye or limb, torn linen jackets, hats with beast skulls, and more. Everyone here carried a uniquely strange appearance. Mixed species too.
Overall, it was simply the general vibe of a mess.
But the confident crowds still tried to catch our attention, some with their weird roughened accents. I decided to move towards the end of the docks, following everyone else, travelling through the shorelines of sand where ships were positioned. Wooden walkways stood from the sea's waters of Lirmina Docks. The afternoon sun glittered upon the ocean.
And still, the sight that caught my attention most were the hordes, along with their sayings.
"Trust our crew, matey, if ya' want the greatest travel experience!"
"'Tis I, Brownbeard, of the Fierigore pirates-"
"Aargh! We're the finest hunters of the seas, don't listen to the rest of 'em. . ."
"Just don't look back at the pirates. That'll give them hope."
I heard Vexx say, helmeted as well. Like his young self knew this sort of situation.
Strange how he has his helmet on in public all the time. My inner thoughts noted down.
Before I realized he was conversing with Thorne, who was trying to keep his sister from interacting with the multitude, I spoke too.
"My understanding was that they seek to help us."
The winged person let out a scoff.
"Trust me, they just want the order's money for their 'bounties.'"
He raised his arms saying that last word, and curled his two fingers closest to the thumb, on each hand. Whatever the gesture meant.
"Which that I can understand." Vexx finalized.
For some reason, I found myself turning my head to Aziel on my other side. Hair newly adjusted into her usual thick braids. I didn't even know if she was listening too.
Although, if anyone else would have something to answer with, it would be her. And she's basically the only one I told about my desire to remember, besides Headmaster Chronisius.
"Kid's right somehow. . . sort of." Her slightly-freckled face looked back at me this time, then ahead as we moved along the beach. "It's a pirate's dream to prove themselves on the sea. And one way to do that is to succeed at a Chronicle Order quest."
"I'm pretty sure they're just in it for the rewards." Vexx clarified.
"Not every one is a beast hunter."
Aziel added for good measure. "And I'm sure there's some of them who have motivations, outside of greed."
His slight grin wavered only for a second, as he picked it up again.
And I had no time to think about the definition of a 'beast hunter', before I heard our headmaster speak.
"Ah, greedy hunter or not, who's to say they won't join eventually?"
Then the squad stopped in place as he did.
"We'll need all the help we can acquire."
We had arrived in front of a stone yellow staircase. It seemed to lead towards a front porch, partly held by white columns and carved statues of human fish. On each of the double-doors was the familiar golden logo of an open book. Surrounded within its circle patterned by lines of black.
Headmaster Chronisius nodded and waved at the audience for a final moment. With middle-aged white hair and a confident smile. Then his expression immediately dropped shifting back towards us, keeping the slight grin but now with a serious demeanor, hands rested behind him.
"Currently, we require none of the beggars. I've entrusted to our division the finest 'pirates' in all of Midkyron. They shall assist us with the navies."
The leader started up the steps, orange and brown robes flowing behind him.
I climbed up the stairs with him, before the rest, leaving behind the seamen blocked by our shielded soldiers.
My eyes darted at my surroundings still. Distracted, to the point where everyone else passed by me.
This place. . . it wasn't new, just like many other areas. I've been here before.
Those shores beyond the people. The water crashing onto the beach sand. I remember being there, docking for. . . a different purpose. Mounting a horse with those the same kind as me, armed and following every command I spoke of.
We were to take down something. Some one? Or a multitude of. . .
The palm of my scaled hand grasped onto my forehead. Inside the skull, I ached and sharpened in sudden pain. My metallic boot failed to plant itself on the next step.
And I kneeled down, vision starting to blur, removing the spiked helmet for a gasp of air.
I closed my eyes to focus and ignore it. Why did I remember. . .? I could feel the memory slipping away.
It seemed the more I tried to understand, the further I forgot. So I stayed crouching for a moment. Allowing the headache to trail away.
"Black Knight, are you well?"
I opened my eyes to see a human hand reached out, in front of me. Aziel was the one standing on the upper step. The other questers were further towards the entrance, peering at the both of us confusingly.
". . .yes, I am now, Hazel."
My hand grabbed hers, pulling myself to standing position.
She smiled at the mention, despite it being unintentional with my foggy mind, then expressed a more serious stare.
"What happened there? Lightheadedness?" Aziel asked at once as if she knew about it."Usually it is an after-effect of. . ."
Those last words became unheard to me as I looked into her deep brown eyes, catching my own dazedness.
Then glancing away.
"It just happened for a second."
Over her shoulder, I noticed Headmaster Chronisius beside the double-doors in the distance. The leader was awaiting us.
So I put my helmet back to covering my face.
"Thank you. But the feeling's gone. We better continue."
After heading over to the others, and explaining to the headmaster about my small occurrence, our troops held open the entrance. And we stepped into yet another Chronicle Order base.
Stone pillars with carved swirls decorated the hallway, leading forwards. Workers of mostly Dwellven and fish-like people bustled to and from the different rooms, navigating around, for probably their own duties. Most of them carried wooden crates and barrels, closed shut.
We continued forwards. The intersecting hallways eventually led to the middle area of the building.
In the center of it all, with a few rays of sun illuminating it through the glass roof, was a stone statue that had its head split, into pieces of rubble. I couldn't tell exactly what the figure was. But it held some sort of shining trident.
"Hah, not even Reytus gets turned into that." I overheard the wizard girl talk about their unifying Dwellven god, with Thorne's sigh.
"True. . ." The older sibling said with his arms crossed. ". . .and you likely shouldn't say that here. Out loud."
Our group dodged past the masses of busy people, still travelling straight ahead.
Until we eventually arrived at a wider hall. With natural light shining from the end of it, showcasing another part of the shoreline, full of rocks and endless sea.
Walkways of wood were raised from the shallow waters near to us, and a massive planked ship was anchored afloat with others beside it.
It was around four times the size of the Dwellven inn, from Mythin Caverns, excluding the towering flag hoisted on its mast. The white banner radiated the orange and yellow scripture logo, of the Chronicle Order.
Headmaster Chronisius approached the ship, while I followed, with everyone else in our division and his soldiers. Smaller ships were lined up beside it, being filled up with supplies by troops from the base. Like an entire navy was preparing for war.
As we went closer, noises of screeches and growls made us freeze suddenly.
I pulled out my steel longsword at once. Raising it in front of my face for an attack.
Then I turned my head towards the sounds coming closer.
Another group, or a crew if you will, of figures carried some sort of wet creature in the distance, using their shining scepters to keep it in place. Marching to where we stood. Behind another blurry hatted figure who was leading them.
They all wore rich white vests, with gold-colored lining. Although their races were clearly different from one another, the same appearance of black leather belts, boots, and shirt frills remained. It's as if the dozen were the most presentable pirates around.
Above the team's heads squirmed a long, fin-less fish, shaped similiar to a snake. An orb of dying blue light flickered from above its black eyes, and tiny piercing fangs. The sphere was attached to the antenna dangling out its forehead.
The attired people of fins and gills held the beast within a bubble, collectively with their magic scepters and rings. It shrieked trying to escape the floating container of water.
"Keep the creature secured with the others, lads and lasses." Their leader in front ordered with a deep, mature woman's voice, while her team passed us to walk towards the giant ship. "We shall sell their magic to the sea territories."
"Aye, captain!" They collectively answered and obeyed.
Then she turned to face our group, taller than everyone excluding myself. Her tentacles flowed down straight and tied like organized dreads. The woman appeared like a human, except with deep purple leathery skin, and a tail with fins. Instead of a blade sheathed into her black belt, there was a staff coloured by shades of the ocean. Matching her dark blue tricorn hat, seemingly common for pirates, but this time lined with more gold.
After seeing me, the captain strutted forwards, fixing her bluish jacket over the bright vest. To meet Headmaster Chronisius who stepped in front.
"Headmaster Chronisius the 7th."
After giving the higher-up an elegant bow, she stood at ease with hands behind her backside.
"It's a pleasure to hear that you desire assistance from The Goldwave Pirates, once more."
"It seems as though every other platoon fails to hold a candle." The headmaster decided to compliment, to her slight grin, and delight for praise. "Everyone knows about your crew's successes by now, Captain Aurel."
"Ah, well, word gets around."
Then she directly stared at me again. As if looking at a stain not meant to exist.
"Speak of the devils. . . I suppose you might be the Black Knight, correct lad?"
After standing straighter, I glanced at Headmaster Chronisius, then met her eyes defensively.
"That would be me." I took a step forwards for questioning. "Is that fact unwelcome?"
Captain Aurel tilted her head, with a little laugh. "Oh, how the Marines would be delighted to deal with you."
Then her smile faded slight as she narrowed her eyes. I blinked without knowing whether or not the captain attempted to be serious. Or if she desires reward like the rest of them.
"But proceed inside." The captain turned with her back facing us. "Why don't you meet our finest crewmates?"